Balotelli taunts Manchester United after Leicester loss

The Liverpool striker, who played a key role in Manchester City’s 6-1 win at Old Trafford three years ago, revelled in the Red Devils’ second-half collapse on Twitter

Mario Balotelli has taunted Manchester United following Sunday’s shock 5-3 loss to newly-promotedLeicester City.

Robin van Persie and Angel Di Maria gave United a 2-0 lead inside 16 minutes, with Ander Herrera restoring the margin just before the hour-mark.

However, goals from David Nugent, from the penalty-spot, and Esteban Cambiasso saw Leicester fight back before Jamie Vardy and Leonardo Ulloa’s second claimed a stunning victory.

United’s collapse marked the first time in Premier League history they have seen a two-goal lead slip on the way to losing a game.

And Balotelli, who recently joined Liverpool and includes Manchester City among his former sides, took to Twitter to broadcast his post-match reaction soon after the final whistle.

Unfortunately, in response, the striker received a barrage of racist abuse from a number of Twitter users. Others, in defence of Balotelli, reported a number of the messages to police.

“I’m just doing my job” – Lampard reacts to scoring AGAINST Chelsea

The 36-year-old came on as a substitute to net his first goal for Manchester City – against his former club – to salvage a point for the Premier League champions

Frank Lampard admits he was “lost for words” after his first goal for Manchester City rescued a 1-1 draw against Chelsea.

After nearly 13 years at Stamford Bridge, Lampard left the club earlier this summer and agreed a deal with New York City FC but joined Manchester City on loan until January.

City, who were reduced to 10 men after Pablo Zabaleta’s dismissal, fell behind following Andre Schurrle’s second-half strike but Lampard, on as a substitute, netted with five minutes remaining to salvage a point for the Premier League champions.

“It’s a really difficult one,” Lampard told Sky Sports.

“I’d be unprofessional if I didn’t come on and do my job. I tried to get back in the box, it was a great ball from Milly [James Milner]. I had 13 amazing years with Chelsea fans. So I’m mixed [sic] with it. Obviously, I’m really pleased the team I play for got a draw, so it a really hard one for me to answer.

“I’m a bit lost for words. I didn’t expect to come on and score like that. I come on and the Chelsea fans are signing and that’s emotional, then I’m playing for this club who have taken me in brilliantly as well. So I’m really stuck in the middle here.”

“I didn’t know what I wanted from today, it was a tough one. I suppose this can be seen as a happy medium at the end. It’s a long season, and these two teams, plus others will fight on, it’ll make for an interesting Premier League.”

El-Rufai using Oritsejafor as cover-up, says group

A religious group, Christians United Against Boko Haram, has accused former minister of the federal capital territory, Nasir el-Rufai, of deliberately attacking Ayo Oristejafor, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in order to cover up some of his misdeeds.

After the South African government discovered a huge amount of money meant for the illegal procurement of arms in an aircraft linked to Oritsejafor, el-Rufai joined some notable critics of the government to call for an investigation into the issue, saying the cleric has a case to answer.

Though Oritsejafor distanced himself from the deal by claiming the aircraft had been leased out since August, his critics would have none of that.

Commenting on the issue, Olusola Oyedokun, the executive secretary of the body, maintained that el-Rufai is just hell bent on maligning the reputation of the president of CAN.

“Firstly, on Monday at the September 8, 2014, at the Portcullis House in Parliament, London, Malam Nasir el-Rufai publicly accused the president of CAN, Oritsejafor, of collecting N50bn from President Goodluck Jonathan as well as a jet for the purpose of sponsoring terrorism,” Oyedokun said.

“After his speech, he distributed a pamphlet which contained his accusations. We have documentary and photographic proof of this and of course Malam Nasir el-Rufai cannot deny this. We will be prepared to produce the evidence should the Malam have the temerity to issue a denial.

“Secondly, the plane in question has already been established to have been leased out to a commercial firm. As at the time the plane was chartered by persons connected to Nigeria’s Security agencies, they had no fore knowledge of the ownership of the plane. Why, in spite of this fact, has Mallam Nasir el-Rufai continued to link the president of CAN to the purported deal?

“Thirdly, the Nigerian Security community has indicated without equivocation that this was a legitimate transaction, blaming the official delegation for any slips and particularly the failure to declare the funds.”

Oyedokun added that Nigerians should be suspicious of el-Rufai and the All Progressives Congress (APC), maintaining that they are trying to divert the attention of the public from the alleged ties that they have with the Boko Haram.

“Going by the statements and documents adduced by Malam Nasir el-Rufai at the British Parliament on Monday September 8 and the subsequent issue regarding the plane, it is obvious that Malam Nasir el-Rufai and his associates have a mole within the national security community, which in the opinion of CAN explains so many things.

“Fourthly, should it not bother the Nigerian public that only on the September 16 2014, a member of the European Parliament, Franz Obermayr (MEP), a senior member of the European Parliament, accused the All Progressive Congress of using humanitarian aid from Europe as well as funds received from al-Qaeda to fund the terrorist sect, Boko Haram?

“This is all the more troubling especially considering that Mr. Andrew Rosindell of the British Parliament made similar allegations on the floor of the House of Commons two months ago.

“Why has Mallam Nasirel-Rufai, the Buhari Vanguard and the APC suddenly come out with guns blazing in their accusations against CAN and the person of Pastor Ayo when the world is focusing attention on exposing the sponsors of the Boko Haram sect?

“We encourage all Nigerians to search for and read the revelations by Franz Obermayr. He mentions names, and big names at that. Also, we wonder why Mallam el-Rufai who has been in celebratory mood about the revelations of Rev. Davies, has chosen to keep quiet about the identity of the “senior official of the CBN who recently left the bank” and who was implicated by Davies as a direct sponsor of terror.

“These and other revelations are what people like Mallam Nasir el-Rufai are eager to sweep under the carpet with this red herring of a jet linked to Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.”

Culled from: thecable.ng

50 armed men attack Rivers community, behead youth

Over 50 armed men have invaded Taaba Community in Khana Local Government Area.

The Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Leyii Kwanee, a native of Taaba narrated the incident, which happened Thursday night.

He said the attackers beheaded a youth,who he did not identify and destroyed the palace of the Mene-Bua-Ba, Kabari Nu-le, the paramount ruler. They also critically injured another youth, he added.

He said they also disrupted life in the community, such that many people were forced to flee.

He said the invaders came said on Thursday night, leaving one other youth seriously injured.

Kwanee condemned the invasion of his community saying it may have been orchestrated by desperate politicians who are seeking power by all means ahead of the 2015 general election.

He said he had reported the attack to the commissioner of police, Dan Bature.

When I met Asari and agreed a peace deal— Stephen Davis(Australian Negotiator)

I read with interest Asari Dokubo’s comments published on September 14 in the Daily Post.
Asari is quite correct in saying that he knows me well and has met members of my family.

In 2004, the Niger Delta was aflame with conflict. Asari, Ateke Tom and Tompolo were waging a fierce war against the Nigerian federal and state governments. Many people had been killed.
Nigerian military were having trouble contending with Asari’s guerrilla warfare. Small, highly mobile and heavily armed militant forces in fast boats struck across the Niger Delta targeting oil installations and military posts. Nigeria’s oil output at one point dropped to  as low as 600,000 barrels per day and on average was halved to one million barrels per day.

Australian negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis, and Boko Haram commanders in 2013 after BH reportedly agreed to dialogue
This was a devastating blow to Nigeria’s economy and the operations of the major international oil companies. Apart from the economic impact, communities were suffering from the conflict with many innocent people killed in military efforts to purge the communities of militants.
My wife and I were living in Port Harcourt and, in 2004, I explored the idea of a peace deal with an Ijaw friend, Von Kemedi. As an Ijaw, he knew Asari who was also Ijaw. Von was able to make contact with Asari who agreed to meet with me.
Von and I subsequently travelled through the swamps in a speed boat to Opurata  village to see the damage to villages before transferring to a canoe that we paddled to another village from where we were met by Asari’s men in another fast boat. With a blindfold on we were taken to another island where we waited until another boat escorted us to Asari’s camp. A vigorous discussion took place that night surrounded by Asari’s well-armed fighters. By the end of the night, the foundation of a peace deal has been set down.

I subsequently took the peace proposal to President  Olusegun Obasanjo and found him ready and willing to support peace and disarmament. The deal also encompassed demobilisation and a programme to reintegrate the militants back into the communities. This required a skills training programme which President Obasanjo supported. A final essential element was weapons surrender and destruction. The protocol used was that set down by the UN and was agreed by both sides.

At the Villa

I stayed in close contact with Asari by satellite phone each evening around 5pm.
We worked out the details of the peace process. The first step was a ceasefire. The ceasefire was set in place on  September 8, 2004,  but in the following days was broken three times and each time it was the Nigerian military that broke the ceasefire. Even when under fire during a ceasefire breach Asari, honoured his word and withdrew, firing only for self-protection.
To complete the peace deal, President Obasanjo directed me to oversee the extraction of Asari and his key commanders in September 2004. I travelled to the Niger Delta with a handful of SSS men headed by Fubara Duke, an Ijaw man known to Asari and trusted by President Obasanjo.
At 1am on September 29, 2004 Asari, and his commanders met us at Abonnema Landing in the Niger Delta and we proceeded to Port Harcourt airport where we boarded a plane at dawn to take us to Abuja and direct to President Obasanjo in the Cabinet Room.

That day was punctuated with amazing revelations as Asari recounted events that led him and his men to defy the government and launch a guerrilla style campaign.
Asari always kept his word to me. He gave me an undertaking on the ceasefire and kept it even in the face of breaches by the military. When it came to  time for weapons surrender, he asked me how many weapons I wanted him to surrender. I said, ‘ Asari you have 3,000 men, so I want 3,000 weapons.’
Asari gave a commitment to hand over 3,000 guns, 100 general purpose machine guns and some rocket launchers which were subsequently destroyed in a series of public destructions to UN standards overseen by the Army at Bori Military Camp in Port Harcourt in mid-November 2004.
President Obasanjo kept his word and on  October 1,  2004 the peace accord was announced and Asari and his commanders returned to the Niger Delta.
Asari is correct is saying I never paid him anything. I never paid anyone and no one paid me either by way of funds or favours. President Obasanjo did not offer to pay me for the Niger Delta peace accord and I did not seek payment. The peace deal was built on trust. I went to Asari’s camp unarmed and without any security.

Asari and his key commanders travelled with me and the small SSS contingent totally unarmed. We trusted each other with our lives and that built trust. There can be no peace without trust. Without trust, there is merely a ceasefire which will eventually be broken and the fighting resume.
Asari said in his interview with the Daily Post that President Obasanjo broke his word. I am not so sure of that. What I think Asari may be referring to is the demobilisation and skills training that did not materialise after the peace accord. Funds were to be set aside to train the ex-militants for employment and to reintegrate them back into their communities. This phase of the work was to be undertaken by the state governors.

By March 2005, a full six months had passed without any sign of training and reintegration. It was no surprise then to find 200 Niger Delta ex-militants had been recruited by foreign mercenaries to participate in a coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea. The ex-militants were intercepted as they departed Warri in a ship bound for Guinea. They had each been promised $5,000 and an AK47.
Had the promised skills training and reintegration been implemented, these young men probably would not have agreed to join the coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea. So Asari is right but it was more likely that the governors were not sincere and not former President Obasanjo. It was the governors that had armed, promoted and used the gangs for political purposes in much the same way that former Governor Modu Sheriff  was alleged to have done in Borno State..
It was this failure to honour the agreement to demobilise by providing skills training and reintegration that fuelled discontent and provided the conditions that formed MEND which added bombing and kidnapping to its mode of operation.

Contrary to Asari’s understanding, former President Obasanjo did not bring me to Nigeria on my recent trip to seek the release of the Chibok girls or for any other purpose. Nor did President Jonathan or anyone else. I came to Nigeria in April this year to seek the release of the Chibok girls at my own expense and of my own volition because I could see no progress on the release of the kidnapped girls.

Girls horrifying rape

While Asari may not believe any girls were kidnapped, let me assure you that hearing the stories of some girls who have escaped from Boko Haram camps is a sobering experience. There are many girls who have been kidnapped apart from the girls from the Chibok school.

The kidnapping of girls by Boko Haram has been going on for at least a year. Initially Boko Haram kidnapped girls because the fighters could not go back home to their wives. They used the kidnapped girls. Girls tell how they were raped every day, week after week.
One girl was raped every day, sometimes several times a day by groups of men. Some did not survive the ordeal. The escaped girls tell harrowing stories of rape and abuse. They are traumatised and require medical treatment and counselling. These girls are testament to the horrifying truth about the kidnappings.

But the Chibok kidnappings were only the start of my recent journey to Nigeria. It soon became apparent the (alleged) sponsors did not want any interference in their plan. The “political Boko Haram” which (allegedly) started out as Sheriff’s ECOMOG (so named after the military peace keeping forces operating in Liberia at that time because an SDP – Social Democratic Party-   candidate was protected from an angry mob in Bama by a group of youths supporting the SDP)  that targeted his political opponents in the 2003 and 2007 elections have since mutated into the Boko Haram we see today that terrorises through beheadings, butchering innocent villagers, bombing innocent people at shopping malls and in churches, raping and kidnapping.

It is true that Sheriff fell-out with Yusuf and the allegation stands that when the military captured Yusuf in late July 2009 and handed him over to the police in Borno State, he was allegedly  executed on Sheriff’s instruction. Thus the root of the perception that Sheriff cannot be a sponsor but a hated enemy of Boko Haram. But the core of the old Yusufiya  is no longer part of Boko Haram.

Boko Haram is a mutation of  political Boko Haram and Shekau’s Ansaru. The Yusufiya grew out of the Izala movement and had great respect for Izala. Boko Haram now beheads Izala followers. The “slaughterers” work with the political assassins and suicide bombers.

The sponsors of Boko Haram do not care how many innocent Nigerians are slaughtered, how many women are raped, how many girls and boys are kidnapped, how many villages are plundered. I have met too many victims to say, “It is not my problem”.
We are each diminished if we allow such crimes against our fellow citizens to persist. The Nigerian military is diminished if it uses Boko Haram tactics to address the problem. Evil will flourish and triumph if good men and women do nothing.

Many Nigerian politicians have said little and done nothing to curb the slaughter of Nigerians that is being supported by the sponsors. While fathers die to protect their daughters and wives are raped and butchered the sponsors of Boko Haram are accorded privileges and protection.

They fly in private jets and are accorded military protection. Are the sponsors of Boko Haram so far above the law? Have the citizens of Nigeria lost the right to bring these men to justice? Who will stand up for the poor and oppressed who are being slaughtered and raped in their hundreds? By the grace of God we trust that good men and women will stand up and justice will prevail.

*Davis, an Austrialian, is a negotiator

Culled from; Vanguard

Jonathan Visits Synagogue, to Meet State Governors

It emerged yesterday following President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to the site of the collapsed building at Synagogue Church of All Nation (SCOAN) that he would summon a  meeting with 36 state governors  at a yet-to-be fixed date with a view to making a policy decision in respect of erecting high-rise buildings across  the country.

Jonathan made the visit eighth days after the building, which was the guest house section of the SCOAN in Ikotun, Lagos, collapsed and killed 86 persons.

At the impending meeting with the governors, high on the table for discussion, is a policy decision designed to prevent use of defective structures in buildings, strengthening regulations concerning high-rise buildings.
The President, who dropped the hint  of the meeting, said the collapsed structure was “very sad story and very sad incident.”
He expressed condolences to the church members, the Head of the Church, Prophet Temitope B. Joshua and those who lost their dear ones in the incident.

He also condoled with the South African people and President, Jacob Zuma, whom he said, he had already spoken with to extend Nigeria’s condolences.
“Today, when I arrived Lagos, my first port of call was where a six storey building collapsed and 80 people confirmed dead, about 131 people were injured.

“It is a very sad story, very sad incident to us and the international community because most of the people that died in that collapsed building were not Nigerians, in fact majority of them are South Africans.
“I spoke with the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, to first express our own sentiments and condolences to the President and people of that country” Jonathan said

It would be recalled that the building collapsed about 12.45 pm Friday, 12th September.
Joshua, alleged  that the collapse of the building was caused by an attack on the Church, arguing that it was beyond the allegation of structural defects.

He alleged that a plane circulated four times before the building suddenly collapsed at exactly 12.44 pm.
Jonathan after a closed-door meeting with Joshua, however, promised to investigate the cause of the tragedy.
The South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni,  was reported to have said that there could be more than 84 South Africans who died in the incident.

“The number has risen from 67 to 84, with more bodies discovered on Thursday. The number of South Africans who were in the church might be higher, as we believe that some people organised the trip themselves without using travel agents,” he added.
The team of experts from South Africa who were flown in on Wednesday were part of those involved in the identification process to identify their compatriots, both dead and alive.

Weapons Haram: A pastor, a jet, Israel and $10m- By Bala Muhammad

Imagine this scenario: “A private jet belonging to the Sultan of Sokoto [though he hasn’t as yet got one] has been impounded in South Africa laden with undeclared cash to the tune of almost $10m. Also arrested were two Nigerians and a Saudi Arabian citizen. The arrested trio said they were in South Africa to purchase arms…The Sultan of Sokoto is the leader of Nigeria’s Muslim community and President of the country’s influential Nigerian Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs (NSCIA)…”

Just imagine the frenzy, the abuse, the castigation, the condemnation a section of this country’s media and public commentariat would scramble to if this were what happened. The story would have been a real BANG!
However, the story happens to be the direct opposite:

“A private jet belonging to Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has been impounded in South Africa laden with undeclared cash to the tune of almost $10m. Also arrested were two Nigerians and an Israeli citizen. The arrested trio said they were in South Africa to purchase arms…The Pastor is the leader of Nigeria’s Christian community and President of the country’s influential Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)…”

The reaction, as can be imagined, is most definitely a WHIMPER, compared to the BANG that would have erupted were the first scenario the case. Suddenly, all those loud-mouthed Civil Society Organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations and Human Rights Organisations and other loquacious vipers have lost their venomous voices!

Where is the Justice? Where is the Conscience? Where is the Patriotism? All seem to have flown through the wide Nigerian window, as they were hot air in the first place! Imagine if it were the first scenario! And then consider some shameless, feather-weight Ebolic justifications from the likes of that pretender, Femi Fani-Kayode:

“Much ado has been made about recent events in South Africa concerning the Nigerian-owned jet that was found loaded with millions of dollars and that was in the process of procuring arms…As a former Minister of Aviation, I wish to assure the general public that the flying of large sums of cash by security and intelligence agencies for the purchase of arms in a time of war and conflict is something that is quite normal and that it happens quite often. As a matter of fact, it has happened under successive Nigerian governments, both military and civilian…”

Hear! Hear!! Assurance indeed! “…something that is quite normal” indeed! But just imagine what this irritating former opposition politician and now member of the ruling party would have said were the situation as narrated in the first scenario. The castigation, the abuse, the maligning…

And then this one from the Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Cross River State chapter, Bishop Emmah Isong:

“I want to say here that people should not use the name of an elevated Christian leader, number one Christian leader to play politics. Christians will react if they continue to do this because we will not want a spiritual leader to be castigated. It is infuriating; it is rather a security risk to carry this kind of news. We are warning anybody who is perpetuating this lie to desist from it because we will show very serious concern that some people will not like…The $9.3million dollars found in pastors Oritsejafor’s jet is a political lie from the opponents of Mr. President who are presuming that Papa Ayo may become the arrow head to mobilise support for our wonderful President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan…”

Wonderful Papa Ayo! Wonderful President indeed!!

But despite the Federal Government’s attempt to cover-up this scandal and protect the accused (as has been the habit of this ruling party in all its throughout its scandalous history), the South Africans are proving that their country, unlike “the Biggest Economy in Africa” is not a Banana Republic. According to a Punch newspaper report this Friday:

“There are strong indications that efforts of the Federal Government to ensure amicable settlement of issues surrounding the $9.3m seized by South Africa have failed. South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority [NPA], in an email to our correspondent in Abuja on Thursday, said that the matter was still under criminal investigations…South Africa’s NPA’s spokesman, Nathi Mncube, in a response to [Punch] enquiry said: ‘The matter is under criminal investigations by the Directorate of Priority Crimes of Investigations unit at South African Police Services…’”

This Column, therefore, subscribes to the following couple of opinions:

The first is by Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC). This Lagos-based Islamic civil society organisation led by Professor Ishaq Akintola describes as a grand conspiracy against Nigerian Muslims the claim by the Federal Government that it owns the $9.3 million. MURIC insists that the Government’s claim shows it is being economical with the truth.

“We have every reason to reject Federal Government’s explanation and it is hereby rejected. Nigerian Muslims are enveloped with apprehension. All the ingredients of a plot are here for those who care to look beyond their noses. In a country in which two religions are most prominent and are hot rivals of each other, here is the national leader of a religious group who also happens to be the President’s kinsman, an undisguised Muslim hater, a man with a belligerent disposition towards his Muslim neighbours, a man who has been threatening hell and brimstone over the Boko Haram saga, being covered by Government. Tie this to the Israeli connection, a country well known for its anti-Muslim and mass murder propensities.”

“It raises more questions than answers. For instance, was the intended arms purchase really meant for the Nigerian Armed Forces? What is the guarantee that it was not meant for Niger Delta militants, or Christian crusaders masquerading as Boko Haram? After all, under-the-table assistance for Boko Haram has been noticed in the past. Where did the alleged arms and food drops for Boko Haram by helicopters come from? Only the Israelis are capable of doing that,” MURIC asked.

The second opinion is from a so-called Islamic City Project Global Foundation (an Internet-based Forum) which wants Nigerian Muslims to ensure that the CAN president’s saga is not buried, as it would be foolish for Muslims to allow an incident of this magnitude to be swept under the carpet as the Federal Government is trying to do. The Forum believes posterity will never forgive our Muslim leaders if this issue is allowed to die like that.

The Forum further asks the following questions:

If, as claimed, that the jet was on lease, who authorised Pastor Ayo to operate commercial flights with his private jet since he knows the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) rule that owners of private jets [as they are stupendously rich enough to afford the plane in the first place] can only carry family and friends;

Who authorised the loading of almost $10 million on this jet at a Nigerian airport? Where were the Nigerian Customs authorities who ask and frisk passengers to declare sums in excess of a few thousand dollars?;

Where is the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that this hefty amount can be moved without their knowledge? Or was this transaction cleared by the same alleged CBN insider who facilitates the funding and financing of Boko Haram, as claimed by Australian negotiator Reverend Stephen Davis?

What, exactly, were those weapons intended for, considering there was an Israeli citizen on the ‘mission’ and Reverend Davis has pointed fingers at (interestingly) some highly-placed non-Muslim retired military top brass with close contact with Israel and its military/security industry?

Culled from: opinions.ng

Jonathan: I Now Have Right of First Refusal on PDP Ticket

In an apparent flush of excitement at his recent adoption as sole candidate of Peoples Democratic Party for next year’s presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday in Lagos that the endorsement had given him the right of first refusal. Jonathan, who believed he now had the right to decide whether to accept or refuse the presidential ticket before it can be declared open for contest, applauded his party for the decision to adopt him, saying it is the practice in the advanced democracies.

The president spoke during the South-west sensitisation rally of PDP, held at the Tafawa Balewa Square.

But the opposition All Progressives Congress said the endorsement of Jonathan as the only candidate of PDP is a mockery of democracy.

Speaking yesterday by telephone, APC’s national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said, “Who then is afraid of internal democracy. It is not that endorsement is entirely bad but the apparent shutting out of other aspirants does not augur well for democracy.”

Mohammed said a worrisome dimension to the president’s endorsement was the allegation that some PDP governors were arm-twisted into submission by an assurance of non-prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after their tenures.  He added that under the deal, PDP also granted its governors automatic tickets to run for the senate next year, saying it is a dangerous development in the polity.

PDP had on Thursday adopted Jonathan as its sole candidate for next year’s presidential election during the 66th National Executive Committee meeting of the party in Abuja.

Commenting on the party’s decision at the South-west rally yesterday, Jonathan said, “Let me sincerely thank the leaders of our party; from the chairman, committee members, our governors, our National Assembly members, our Board of Trustees members, and all members of the party for giving me the right of first refusal of the presidential ticket.

“When the party leaders endorsed me, by that endorsement I have the right of first refusal. That is what is done in advanced democracies. It shows clearly that the PDP is advancing.

“There are no dictators in the PDP. There is no one that is so powerful to determine who becomes councillor, local government chairman, state House of Assembly member, House of Representatives member, senator, governor, and even president, in the PDP.
“The decision is by the people, for the people, and that is why the PDP will continue to do new things and give right leadership.”

The president’s comments seemed to clear doubts about his interest in a second term, which he is yet to formally announce. 

Jonathan also tried to clear the air on speculations as to whether he would run again with Vice President Namadi Sambo.  He told the crowd at the venue of the rally that the “vice president and I have promised not to disappoint the people.”
The president listed several achievements of his administration, saying some advanced countries are currently understudying the Nigerian template in sectors such as agriculture.

He commended the private sector operators for their role in the economy.
“We are working with the private sector and we are succeeding because we are working with the private sector. In our job creation, we are working with the private sector. We have the National Economic Council made of the private sector.”

Jonathan explained that his government had provided the enabling environment for business, adding, “If we continue to create 3.5 million jobs every year, in the next few years we would see that the unemployment rate will continue to drop.”
Speaking at the occasion, the PDP national chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, said the party was moving to control the South-west.

“I want to assure you that the people of the South-west are totally PDP. Everybody knows that PDP controls the majority of the people and, indeed, the majority of the states in the South-west and I want to assure you that we are election ready, come 2015, to take over those states.”

In a related development, Jonathan said infrastructure development and provision of security were the major focus of his administration. He said this yesterday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Highness, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu I, at his palace. The president had visited the paramount ruler of Lagos State before going to the PDP rally.

Jonathan was accompanied on the visit to the palace by Sambo, Mu’azu, Uche Secondus, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha, former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa, Chief Bode George, chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mrs Roli George, Chief of Staff to the President, General Jone Arogbofa, Special Adviser to the President on Interparty Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, Group Managing Director, Energy Group, Jimoh Ibrahim, ministers, legislators, and top government functionaries and PDP chieftains.

Responding, Oba Akiolu urged the government to ensure a credible vote next year. He said, “I have special love for Mr. President. Leadership is bestowed on any person by the Almighty God. God put you in that position. God will be with you, God will not abandon you, God will bring it to an end.”

Culled from: Thisday live

2015: Northern youths endorse Atiku. Plead with Buhari, Kwankwaso to shelve ambition

Youth groups from across the North converged on Kaduna at the weekend, and declared their unalloyed support for the presidential ambition of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in 2015.

The groups that met under the aegis of an NGO, Concept of Realism, also pleaded with General Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State to shelve their ambitions for the presidency under the platform of the All Progressives Party (APC) for now.

Speaking at a press conference after a solidarity gathering in honour of the former Vice President, Barrister Zubairu Abubakar who spoke for all the youth groups agitating for an Atiku presidency in 2015, said they were earlier in touch with groups rooting for Buhari to vie for the presidency again such as The Buhari Organisation(TBO) and those working for Kwankwaso, and had tried to convince them that the two politicians should be advised to rally round Atiku during the forthcoming primaries of the APC.

Similarly,the Danmalikin Tudun Wada, Alhaji Abdulrazak Garba, had told the gathering that Atiku’s friendship cuts across the nation and he is the only politician that could restore the glory and respect Nigerians have had for the presidency.

According to Zubairu, Atiku had the capacity to contest election with PDP’s Goodluck Jonathan and win because he had the experience and knows the tribal composition of Nigeria more than other presidential aspirant.

He said amidst applause that “ our aim is to bring the former Vice President and the Turaki of Adamawa to contest the presidency. We are not out to pressurise him to contest but to bring out the qualities that would qualify him for the office of the President.” 

When I met Asari and agreed a peace deal— Stephen Davis(Australian Negotiator)

I read with interest Asari Dokubo’s comments published on September 14 in the Daily Post.
Asari is quite correct in saying that he knows me well and has met members of my family.

In 2004, the Niger Delta was aflame with conflict. Asari, Ateke Tom and Tompolo were waging a fierce war against the Nigerian federal and state governments. Many people had been killed.
Nigerian military were having trouble contending with Asari’s guerrilla warfare. Small, highly mobile and heavily armed militant forces in fast boats struck across the Niger Delta targeting oil installations and military posts. Nigeria’s oil output at one point dropped to  as low as 600,000 barrels per day and on average was halved to one million barrels per day.

Australian negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis, and Boko Haram commanders in 2013 after BH reportedly agreed to dialogue
This was a devastating blow to Nigeria’s economy and the operations of the major international oil companies. Apart from the economic impact, communities were suffering from the conflict with many innocent people killed in military efforts to purge the communities of militants.
My wife and I were living in Port Harcourt and, in 2004, I explored the idea of a peace deal with an Ijaw friend, Von Kemedi. As an Ijaw, he knew Asari who was also Ijaw. Von was able to make contact with Asari who agreed to meet with me.
Von and I subsequently travelled through the swamps in a speed boat to Opurata  village to see the damage to villages before transferring to a canoe that we paddled to another village from where we were met by Asari’s men in another fast boat. With a blindfold on we were taken to another island where we waited until another boat escorted us to Asari’s camp. A vigorous discussion took place that night surrounded by Asari’s well-armed fighters. By the end of the night, the foundation of a peace deal has been set down.

I subsequently took the peace proposal to President  Olusegun Obasanjo and found him ready and willing to support peace and disarmament. The deal also encompassed demobilisation and a programme to reintegrate the militants back into the communities. This required a skills training programme which President Obasanjo supported. A final essential element was weapons surrender and destruction. The protocol used was that set down by the UN and was agreed by both sides.

At the Villa

I stayed in close contact with Asari by satellite phone each evening around 5pm.
We worked out the details of the peace process. The first step was a ceasefire. The ceasefire was set in place on  September 8, 2004,  but in the following days was broken three times and each time it was the Nigerian military that broke the ceasefire. Even when under fire during a ceasefire breach Asari, honoured his word and withdrew, firing only for self-protection.
To complete the peace deal, President Obasanjo directed me to oversee the extraction of Asari and his key commanders in September 2004. I travelled to the Niger Delta with a handful of SSS men headed by Fubara Duke, an Ijaw man known to Asari and trusted by President Obasanjo.
At 1am on September 29, 2004 Asari, and his commanders met us at Abonnema Landing in the Niger Delta and we proceeded to Port Harcourt airport where we boarded a plane at dawn to take us to Abuja and direct to President Obasanjo in the Cabinet Room.

That day was punctuated with amazing revelations as Asari recounted events that led him and his men to defy the government and launch a guerrilla style campaign.
Asari always kept his word to me. He gave me an undertaking on the ceasefire and kept it even in the face of breaches by the military. When it came to  time for weapons surrender, he asked me how many weapons I wanted him to surrender. I said, ‘ Asari you have 3,000 men, so I want 3,000 weapons.’
Asari gave a commitment to hand over 3,000 guns, 100 general purpose machine guns and some rocket launchers which were subsequently destroyed in a series of public destructions to UN standards overseen by the Army at Bori Military Camp in Port Harcourt in mid-November 2004.
President Obasanjo kept his word and on  October 1,  2004 the peace accord was announced and Asari and his commanders returned to the Niger Delta.
Asari is correct is saying I never paid him anything. I never paid anyone and no one paid me either by way of funds or favours. President Obasanjo did not offer to pay me for the Niger Delta peace accord and I did not seek payment. The peace deal was built on trust. I went to Asari’s camp unarmed and without any security.

Asari and his key commanders travelled with me and the small SSS contingent totally unarmed. We trusted each other with our lives and that built trust. There can be no peace without trust. Without trust, there is merely a ceasefire which will eventually be broken and the fighting resume.
Asari said in his interview with the Daily Post that President Obasanjo broke his word. I am not so sure of that. What I think Asari may be referring to is the demobilisation and skills training that did not materialise after the peace accord. Funds were to be set aside to train the ex-militants for employment and to reintegrate them back into their communities. This phase of the work was to be undertaken by the state governors.

By March 2005, a full six months had passed without any sign of training and reintegration. It was no surprise then to find 200 Niger Delta ex-militants had been recruited by foreign mercenaries to participate in a coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea. The ex-militants were intercepted as they departed Warri in a ship bound for Guinea. They had each been promised $5,000 and an AK47.
Had the promised skills training and reintegration been implemented, these young men probably would not have agreed to join the coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea. So Asari is right but it was more likely that the governors were not sincere and not former President Obasanjo. It was the governors that had armed, promoted and used the gangs for political purposes in much the same way that former Governor Modu Sheriff  was alleged to have done in Borno State..
It was this failure to honour the agreement to demobilise by providing skills training and reintegration that fuelled discontent and provided the conditions that formed MEND which added bombing and kidnapping to its mode of operation.

Contrary to Asari’s understanding, former President Obasanjo did not bring me to Nigeria on my recent trip to seek the release of the Chibok girls or for any other purpose. Nor did President Jonathan or anyone else. I came to Nigeria in April this year to seek the release of the Chibok girls at my own expense and of my own volition because I could see no progress on the release of the kidnapped girls.

Girls horrifying rape

While Asari may not believe any girls were kidnapped, let me assure you that hearing the stories of some girls who have escaped from Boko Haram camps is a sobering experience. There are many girls who have been kidnapped apart from the girls from the Chibok school.

The kidnapping of girls by Boko Haram has been going on for at least a year. Initially Boko Haram kidnapped girls because the fighters could not go back home to their wives. They used the kidnapped girls. Girls tell how they were raped every day, week after week.
One girl was raped every day, sometimes several times a day by groups of men. Some did not survive the ordeal. The escaped girls tell harrowing stories of rape and abuse. They are traumatised and require medical treatment and counselling. These girls are testament to the horrifying truth about the kidnappings.

But the Chibok kidnappings were only the start of my recent journey to Nigeria. It soon became apparent the (alleged) sponsors did not want any interference in their plan. The “political Boko Haram” which (allegedly) started out as Sheriff’s ECOMOG (so named after the military peace keeping forces operating in Liberia at that time because an SDP – Social Democratic Party-   candidate was protected from an angry mob in Bama by a group of youths supporting the SDP)  that targeted his political opponents in the 2003 and 2007 elections have since mutated into the Boko Haram we see today that terrorises through beheadings, butchering innocent villagers, bombing innocent people at shopping malls and in churches, raping and kidnapping.

It is true that Sheriff fell-out with Yusuf and the allegation stands that when the military captured Yusuf in late July 2009 and handed him over to the police in Borno State, he was allegedly  executed on Sheriff’s instruction. Thus the root of the perception that Sheriff cannot be a sponsor but a hated enemy of Boko Haram. But the core of the old Yusufiya  is no longer part of Boko Haram.

Boko Haram is a mutation of  political Boko Haram and Shekau’s Ansaru. The Yusufiya grew out of the Izala movement and had great respect for Izala. Boko Haram now beheads Izala followers. The “slaughterers” work with the political assassins and suicide bombers.

The sponsors of Boko Haram do not care how many innocent Nigerians are slaughtered, how many women are raped, how many girls and boys are kidnapped, how many villages are plundered. I have met too many victims to say, “It is not my problem”.
We are each diminished if we allow such crimes against our fellow citizens to persist. The Nigerian military is diminished if it uses Boko Haram tactics to address the problem. Evil will flourish and triumph if good men and women do nothing.

Many Nigerian politicians have said little and done nothing to curb the slaughter of Nigerians that is being supported by the sponsors. While fathers die to protect their daughters and wives are raped and butchered the sponsors of Boko Haram are accorded privileges and protection.

They fly in private jets and are accorded military protection. Are the sponsors of Boko Haram so far above the law? Have the citizens of Nigeria lost the right to bring these men to justice? Who will stand up for the poor and oppressed who are being slaughtered and raped in their hundreds? By the grace of God we trust that good men and women will stand up and justice will prevail.

*Davis, an Austrialian, is a negotiator

Culled from; Vanguard